Gate-latch.



which, so far as this invention is concerned,

SCOTT W. CARLISLE, OF BRADSHAW, NEBRASKA.

GATE-LATCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 2, 1907.

Application filed July 12,1906. Serial No. 325,972.

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, Soorr W. CARLISLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brad shaw, in the county of York, State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gate-Latches; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has relation to gravitylatches for gates, barn-doors, and other heavy hinged structures.

The object of the invention is to provide a gravity-latch that will be strong and durable and not easily gotten out of order by the displacement of the parts.

It is also designed to be simple in con struction and to operate perfectly both as a latch and a lock.

The invention will be first described in view of the annexed drawings, forming a part of this specification, and then be particularly pointed out in the subjoined claim.

Of the said drawings, Figure 1 is an inside elevation of a gate and gateposts equipped with the improvements. Fig. 2 is a face view of the latch-post with the latch.

Similar figures designate similar parts or features, as the case may be, Wherever they occur.

In the drawings, 10

designates a gate might as well be a barn-door or other heavy hinged structure.

11 is the post to which the gate is hinged.

12 are the vertical end pieces of the gate provided with a bar 13, forming a part of the atching means. The said bar 13 extends outward beyond the timbers or vertical end pieces 12 and is fixed thereto by bolts or screws.

14 is a piece of strap-metal bent or doubled upon itself to form a loop or pocket without a bottom. The loop or bottomless pocket is secured to the gate-post 15 by a bolt or screw 16, passed through its ends into the gate-post and by a screw 17, passed through the loop or pocket part and through a ring 18, placed in the said bottomless pocket. The position of the screw 17 is above the axis of the ring, which at its bottom rests upon a pivoted latch-lever 19, projecting both inside and outside of the gate, or, in other words, projects at both ends beyond the gate-post to which it is attached.

Under this construction the gate being open it can be closed by simply swinging it to, with the bar 13 in position to strike the ring 18 below its axis. The result of this action will be that the ring will bound up a little, and the bar 13 will pass under and behind it, and the ring will drop down on the pivoted latch 19 with the latch-bar 13 near enough to an imaginary line running through the axis of the ring to hold the gate closed. In this condition should it be desired to open the gate from the inside the latch-lever 19, pivoted to the gate-post and on the outer arm of which the ring rests, will have its inner arm depressed, with the effect of raising the ring so that the gate can be swung open, the latchbar 13 passing under the ring, and after the said latch-bar has passed the ring will rest upon the outer arm of the latch-lever in position to be struck by the latch-bar near its lower side, when the gate is again swung to, so that the latch-bar will again pass under said ring, which, as aforesaid, will hold the said gate latched so that it cannot be opened without the exertion of considerable force against the inside or without depressing the inner arm of the latch-lever 19. When it is desired to lock the gate so that it cannot be opened by the latches, a pin 20 will be inserted in the hole 21, formed through the bottomless pocket above the axis of the ring and in close proximity thereto when the ring hangs upon the screw 17 when it will be impossible to open the gate by means of the latches or without removing the pin.

The latch-lever will be so constructed that when the gate is closed the ring 18 resting on the outer arm of the lever will wedge itself in place thereon so as not to be easily dislodged by merely pressing against the inside of the gate, but requiring the raising of the ring b the depression of the inner arm of the latchlevera thing that is easily done. If the gate or door should sag slightly, its operation will not be interfered with, since so long as the latch-bar strikes the ring below its axis and the ring rests upon the latch-lever and the latter can be operated to lift it the device will operate to latch the gate.

It is obvious that changes may be made in the form and arrangement of parts within the scope of mechanical ingenuity without departing from the general nature and spirit ner arm extended under the ring, and a pin of the invention. adapted to be inserted through the pocket What is claimed as the invention .is 1 above the axis of the ring and in close prox- 15 The combination of the gate and gateimity to the latter.

posts and a horizontal latch-bar secured to In testimony whereof I aflix my signature the gate and extending beyond its swinging in presence of two Witnesses.

edge, a bottomless pocket secured to the l SCOTT W. CARLISLE.

gate-post, a ring in said pocket, a screw-stud l/Vitnesses:

extended through the bottomless pocket and ROY E. SIMMONS,

ring to support the latter looselyin the pocket, 0. B. PALMER, J r.

a latch-lever pivoted to the post with its in- 

